French Tech Community // Nbi
Handbook
WHAT
French TechInitiative launched by the government in 2013, coordinated by the
Mission French Tech within the French Ministry for the Economy and
Finance, and led by :
WHO All the actors who work in or for the French Startups in France or
abroad:
Entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, designers, developers, incubators,
accelerators, Fab Labs, major groups, media, associations, public
operators, research, etc.
French Tech Community // Nairobi
Creation of bridges between French startups and foreign entrepreneurs
Organization of a local ecosystem to create synergies and promote collaboration
FED
ERA
TE
#1 Mobilize the ecosystem : Mobilize private sector to develop the
ecosystem (host events such as B2B, cocktails, contests, etc.); Detect new
ideas/projects, support their development
#2 Offer Services : Mentoring and networks, Support French startups to
settle in Kenya and direct kenyan startups in France
#3 Boost startups : Detect ideal candidates to acceleration programs
(French Tech Ticket, Startuppeur Total-French Tech, etc.)
#4 Be visible : Communicate and share information via Twitter and
Facebook and organize and participate to local events
HOW
Creation of bridges between French startups and foreign entrepreneurs
Organization of a local ecosystem to create synergies and promote collaboration
Strengthen links with others African
French Tech
Ensure visibility in front of the French
ecosystem and attractiveness of
France for local tech
Develop ideas, boost local startups,
accelerate the development of the
digital ecosystem
Support establishment & growth of
French startups
ACCELERATE
SHINEFEDERATE
WHO Piloted by the private sector, through a board and steering
committee of French & local stakeholders:
C4DLab | University of
Nairobi's Innovation and
Incubation Hub. C4DLab is
an R&D and startup
incubation lab, based at the
School of Computing and
Informatics, University of
Nairobi. The lab aims at
contributing to building the
Silicon Savannah, by
leveraging on the University
community and alumni.
http://www.c4dlab.ac.ke/
@iBizAfrica | Business
Incubator which carries out
the Entrepreneurship and
Incubation theme of
@iLabAfrica. @iBizAfrica
seeks to provide a nurturing
environment that builds on
the potential of the youth to
develop ICT solutions and
businesses that work for the
common good in society.
http://www.ibizafrica.co.ke/i
ndex.php/about/
INCUBATORS, FABLAB & COWORKING SPACE
Chandaria-BIIC | Kenyatta
University’s Innovation and
Incubation Centre. The
Chandaria-BIIC was launched
to support new and innovative
ideas from students. The
program aims to realize the
goal of training job creators
rather than job seekers in an
effort to reduce poverty.
http://www.ku.ac.ke/chandaria
-biic/
STARTUP INCUBATORA collaborative program
designed to help new startups succeed. Incubators help
entrepreneurs solve some of the problems commonly associated with running a
startup by providing workspace, seed funding, mentoring, and training.
The sole purpose of a startup incubator is to help entrepreneurs grow their
business.
GrowthAfrica | Impact startup
accelerator and business and
market consulting company.
Growing ambitious and
scalable African startups and
SMEs into successful
enterprises through business
acceleration, strategic advice
and access to investments
(VCs, business angels, etc.).
http://growthafrica.com/
Nailab | Business Incubator.
Entrepreneurship program
focusing on growing
innovative technology driven
ideas. Nailab aims at helping
building world class startups
that can compete on a global
scale, by create an enabling
environment that inspires and
stimulates innovation as well
as entrepreneurship.
http://nailab.co.ke/
@m:lab East Africa |
Regional center for mobile
entrepreneurship. Services
include business incubation,
developer training,
application testing. M:lab is
a consortium of four
organizations aiming to be a
leader in identifying,
nurturing and helping to
build sustainable
enterprises in the
knowledge economy.
http://mlab.co.ke/
- eMobilis: Education,
training, accreditation
and certification.
- World Wide Web
Foundation : curriculum
and content, training and
Education
- The University of Nairobi
School of Computing and
Informatics for rigorous
academic research
- The incubator iHub for
community interaction,
development space,
events and access to
capital and markets.
Seven Seas Technologies
Innovation Lab | SSTakeoff is
geared towards empowering
existing startups, looking to
leverage SST’s tech
knowhow, expertise and
experience in business
strategy. It will provides
access to its diverse network
of clients, suppliers, industry
contacts and more.
http://www.sstgroup.com/innov
ation-labs
FABLABA network aimed at connecting people,
communities and businesses and enabling them to
collaborate, problem solve and brainstorm ideas. A fab
lab is generally equipped with an array of flexible
computer-controlled tools that cover several different
length scales and various materials, with the aim to make "almost anything".
Lake Hub | An open
community, in Kisumu,
created to support individuals
and businesses with an
interest in technology. The
community bring together
entrepreneurs, programmers,
and creatives, connecting
them to partners, resources
and mentors.
http://www.lakehub.co.ke/
Nairobi Garage | Co
working space. Young and
fast-growing businesses
don’t have excess time and
resources to spend on office
logistics. Yet having a
functional, well-designed
and vibrant work space is
crucial to building legitimacy
with customers, growing a
strong team and developing
business networks. Nairobi
Garage helps accelerate
these processes.
https://nairobigarage.com/
COWORKING SPACE A facility that not only offers
new companies an office space, with amenities such as
Wi-Fi, conference rooms, a kitchen, weekly seminars with
guest speakers, but also a network and the opportunity to rub elbows with others in their world. The knowledge
and experience of their peers and small, informal
interactions around the printer can spark new ideas.
Gearbox | Open space for
design and prototyping.
Gearbox sees itself as
leading Kenya’s charge into
the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Gearbox Lite is a prototyping
facility specialized in the
fabrication of printed circuit
boards for electronics.
http://www.gearbox.co.ke/
*iHub | An incubator, an open
space for the technologists,
investors, tech companies
and hacker. Founded in 2010
by the creator of Ushaidi,
*iHub has become the main
catalyst for regional tech
acceleration.
https://ihub.co.ke/
The Foundry Africa | The
Foundry is a network of
premiere office space and
coworking community. It
focuses on startups, small
businesses and freelancers
thanks to a supportive
community of innovators,
reliable services and flexible
membership . They believe
that collaboration, density
and juxtapositions of
carefully chosen companies
can result in a whole that
is exponentially larger,
more disruptive, and
more influential than
the sum of its parts.
www.thefoundry.biz
African Development
Foundation | Independent
United States Government
Agency that provides grants
of up to $250,000 to
community groups and
small enterprises that
benefit under-served and
marginalized groups in Sub-
Saharan Africa.
http://www.usadf.gov/
African agricultural
Capital Fund (AACF) |
Growth capital to boost the
productivity and profitability
of Africa's undercapitalized
agriculture sector.https://www.feedthefuture.gov/
model/african-agricultural-
capital-fund
VCs, ANGELS, PRIVATE EQUITY GROUPS & FACILITATORS
VENTURE CAPITALType of funding for a new or growing business. It usually comes from
venture capital firms that specialize in building high risk financial portfolios. With venture capital, the venture capital firm gives funding
to the startup company in exchange for equity in the startup.
African Seed Investment
Fund | Closed private equity
fund managed by Pearl
Capital Partners. ASIF was
launched in 2009 to provide
risk capital to seed companies
that deliver certified products
to smallholder farmers in
Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi,
Mozambique, Rwanda,
Tanzania, Uganda and
Zambia.www.africa-
assets.com/data/funds/african-
seed-investment-fund
African Women's
Development Fund | Grant
making foundation. Its mission
consists in mobilizing financial,
human and material resources
to support African women and
the work of the African
women’s movement to
advance women’s rights and
gender equality in Africa.
http://awdf.org/
Acumen Fund | Seed
capital from the Rockefeller
Foundation, Cisco Systems
Foundation and three
individual philanthropists.
Non-profit global venture
fund which uses
entrepreneurial approaches
to solve the problems of
poverty.
http://acumen.org/about/con
tact/
African Enterprise
Challenge Fund | A $250m
challenge fund that awards
grants and repayable grants
to private sector companies
that wish to implement
innovative, commercially
viable, high-impact projects in
agribusiness and renewable
energy in Africa.
http://www.aecfafrica.org/
African Media Ventures Fund
| Combination of venture capital
and business development
support. AMVF mobilizes
capital and experience in the
Netherlands to invest in
entrepreneurs in the media
sector and small and medium
sized African media companies.
http://www.amvf.nl/
Agri Vie | Closed-end private
equity investment fund
specializing on food and
agribusiness in Sub-Saharan
Africa. The fund focuses on
the value added components
of the agribusiness value
chain, including inputs to,
processing, marketing and
distribution of products
derived from agriculture,
ecotourism, aquaculture and
forestry. http://agrivie.com/
Demo Africa | Founded by
Kenyan players, it is a
competition aimed to
connect African startups to
the global ecosystem.
DEMO Africa allows start-
ups from all over Africa to
meet VCs, investors, tech
acquisition specialists, IT
buyers and media from
across the region and
around the globe. The Start-
ups are given an opportunity
to launch their products to a
tech eco-system under the
following categories.
www.demo-africa.com/
CDC | UK's development
finance institution. Supports
businesses in Africa and
South Asia by investing
directly providing equity,
debt, mezzanine finance
and guarantees to
businesses; and also
indirectly through supporting
fund managers.
http://www.cdcgroup.com/ANGEL INVESTORS
Also called seed investors or business angels, they are
affluent individuals who inject capital for startups in exchange
for ownership equity or convertible debt. Some angel
investors invest through crowd funding platforms online or
build angel investor networks to pool in capital. Angel investors provide more favorable terms
compared to other lenders, since they usually invest in the
entrepreneur starting the business rather than the viability of the business.
GroFin | Patient capital
and specialized business
support to grow emerging
market enterprises. GroFin
offers technical assistance
grants and debt
mezzanine.https://www.africa-eu-
renewables.org/_funds/grofin-
sgb-fund/
Centum | East African
investment company that
provides quoted private
equity and private equity.
Through the Centum
Foundation, the company
has decided to focus on
financing startups to $5
millions by 2019.
http://www.centum.co.ke/
www.centumfoundation.org
Energy Access Ventures |
EAV is the first focused
venture firm that invests in the
growing number of dynamic
and innovative companies that
are taking on the challenge of
lack of access to electricity
in Sub-saharan Africa.
www.eavafrica.com
IFC | International financial
institution that offers
investment, advisory, and
asset management services
to encourage private sector
development in developing
countries.http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/conne
ct/corp_ext_content/ifc_external_c
orporate_site/home
http://www.africinvest.com/#
FMO Entrepreneurial
Development Bank | Dutch
development bank. Private
sector development bank whose
mission is to empower
entrepreneurs.
https://www.fmo.nl/
Internet Society Kenya
Chapter | Internet Society
Kenya Chapter is a not for
profit Internet Technical
Community that aims at
advancing internet policy,
technology standards and
future developments of the
Internet in Kenya. The
Internet Society has for
many years been the
champion for internet
advancement and open
resource. It is part of a
global network.
www.internetsociety.or.ke
Fanisi | US50M fund which
makes direct investments
(private equity and venture
capital) in businesses with
potential for substantial
growth.
http://www.fanisi.com/
Novastar Ventures | A
catalyst firm assisting the next
generation of entrepreneurs
who are designing and
executing innovative business
models. It aims at investing in
early stage businesses with
the ambition to transform low-
income consumer markets and
alleviate severe social issues,
by deploying inno-vative
business models with the
potential of growing rapidly.www.novastarventures.com
Nest | Honk Kong based
venture capital firm with an
office in Nairobi. Nest works
with entrepreneurs by
sharing knowledge,
experience, providing
access to funding and
introducing itself to startups.
http://nest.vc/
PRIVATE EQUITY GROUPS OR FUNDS
Private equity is capital that is not noted on a
public exchange. Private equity is composed of
funds and investors that directly invest in private
companies.
Safaricom Foundation |
US$1 million investment fund
launched for tech startups by
Kenyan operator Safaricom.www.safaricomfoundation.org
The Baobab Network |
Facilitator that top immerses
investment and strategy
professionals from around
the world into early stage
tech businesses in Africa
that are actively looking to
raise equity rounds. The
most promising companies
are plugged into a carefully
curated network of Angel,
VC and Impact Investors.http://thebaobabnetwork.com/o
urwork/Lelapa Fund |
Crowdfunding investment
platform connecting global
investors with African
growth ventures.
https://www.lelapafund.com/
Proparco | French
Development Agency
subsidiary specializing in
private-sector financing. It
extends medium and long-
term loans at market
conditions, in euros, dollars or
local currencies and financing
through share capital
acquisitions or guarantees.
www.proparco.fr
Savannah Fund | Seed
capital fund specializing in
US$25,000-US$500,000
investments in early stage high
growth technology (web and
mobile) startups in sub-
Saharan Africa. Initially
focused on East Africa, the
fund aims to bridge the early
stage/angel and venture
capital investment gap that
currently exists in Africa.
http://savannah.vc/
TLcom | International VC
fund focused on tech and
innovation for Sub Saharan
Africa across all stages of
the venture capital cycle.
TLcom looks for
entrepreneurs with the
ability to identify an
innovative solution to a
relevant need, and help
them create superior
execution and a long-term
competitive advantage.
www.tlcomcapital.com
Viktoria Ventures | Kenyan
company helping early-
stage companies to obtain
seed funding from angel
investors & forge
networks necessary for
growth. https://vc4a.com/viktoria-
ventures
Tony Elumelu Foundation
Entrepreneurship Program
|http://tonyelumelufoundation.or
g/programme/about-us/
Investment AB Kinnevik |
Swedish investment
company focused on digital
consumer businesses (e-
commerce and market
places, communication,
entertainment, and financial
services). It invests in and
manages a long-term
portfolio of listed and
unlisted companies.
https://www.kinnevik.com/
Mettā | Mettā is a global
entrepreneurs' club that
connects people, ideas and
resources. It has created a
space in Nairobi.www.metta.co/nairobi#events
Safran | Supplier of
systems and equipment for
aerospace, defense and
security. The defense
security branch operates in
the civil, military, and space
markets, and covers the
following areas: inertial
guidance and navigation
equipment, optronics
systems and equipment,
avionics systems, UAV
systems, air-land systems
and equipment, biometric
identification systems,
secure transaction
terminals, and smart cards.https://www.safran-group.com/
FRENCH TECH SECTOR IN KENYA
Thales | Thales Group
designs and builds electrical
systems and provides
services for the aerospace,
defense, transportation and
security markets. The
capabilities of Thales span a
wide spectrum of high
technology products and
services. These include
command and control
systems, communications
and mission management
systems, electronic warfare,
sonar and underwater
systems, etc.www.thalesgroup.com/en
Arjo System | Provider of e-
ID solutions. Arjo System
offers e-Passport solutions for
government agencies and
security printers; e-
identification solutions; border
control management solutions;
smart cards for public
transportation market to
enhance the performances of
access control systems; and
turnkey solutions for sport and
events ticketing access
control.http://www.arjo-systems.com/fr/
AIG | Africa Internet Group,
a Rocket-backed company,
through its subsidiaries,
provides digital services and
infrastructures through
online and mobile market
places and classifieds. The
company operates:
- Jumia, an online
marketplace for IT
equipment, fashion,
cosmetics, home
appliances, cars, and
more;
- Jumia House, a real
estate marketplace
- Jumia Travel, an online
hotel booking;
- Jumia Food, an online
and mobile platform that
allows customers to order
food;
- Jumia Car, a vehicle
marketplace (not
available in Kenya).
www.rocket-internet.com
Interested to set-up in
France?
Website “Welcome to
France” | This new service for
welcoming international talent
consists of a website, which
acts as a unique resource
center to inform and guide
candidates for expatriation in
France. The website enables
visitors to see the various
formalities required before
moving to France and during
the years. It is designed to help
a range of different groups:
companies, investors, start-
ups, lawyers, relocation
companies, etc.www.welcometofrance.comwww.makeourplanetgreatagain.fr
“The word entrepreneur
is French ; it is in our
DNA. We have a strong
desire to start things and
set up businesses.”
Xavier Niel
Kenyan Ministry of ICT |
The Ministry of Information,
Communications and
Technology is in charge of
administering, managing
and developing the
information, broadcasting
and communication policy.
The mandate of the Ministry
comprises the formulation of
policies and laws that
regulate standards and
services in the ICT sector,
telecommunications and the
media industry. It is
responsible of developing,
reviewing and administering
ICT standards,
building capacity of
mass media and ICT,
and the dissemination
of public information
through KBC.
www.ict.go.ke
INSTITUTIONAL ORGANISATIONS
French Ministry for the
Economy and Finance –
French Tech Mission | To
make France a “Digital
Republic”, the Government has
launched a major collective
effort to bolster the growth and
standing of French digital start-
ups, and to shape its
international dimension,
notably through the French
Tech Hub label, aimed at
advance the establishment of
French startups abroad and to
promote the attractiveness of
France to foreign
entrepreneurs and investors.
www.gouvernement.fr/en/la-
french-tech
Business France | Business
France is the national agency
supporting the international
development of the French
economy, responsible for
fostering export growth by
French businesses, as well as
promoting and facilitating
international investment in
France.
www.en.businessfrance.fr
Bbifrance | Bpifrance provides
assistance and financial support
to small and medium-sized
French enterprises or foreign
companies working with French
suppliers. Bpifrance is running
several innovation support
programs, either for individual
companies or for collaborative
research and innovation projects
(of which clusters projects), and
several investment funds
dedicated to innovation
support,in eco-technologies,
life sciences, ICT and other
sectors.
http://www.bpifrance.fr/
Communications Authority of
Kenya | The Communications
Authority of Kenya is the
regulatory authority for the
communications sector in Kenya.
It is responsible for facilitating the
development of the Information
and Communications sectors
including; broadcasting,
multimedia, telecommunications,
electronic commerce, postal and
courier services.
www.ca.go.ke
French Treasury | Three
financial can be mobilized:
The FASEP (Fonds d’Aide au
Secteur Privé) is a grant
instrument from the French
Treasury designed to bring a
consistent answer to the
specific needs expressed by a
public entity in a developing
country (central or local
government, technical agency).
French Treasury soft loans |
France can provide direct
financing for a public project in
developing countries under the
form of sovereign state-to-state
soft loans. These concessional
loans come with highly
favorable financing conditions,
including a 35% grant element.
French Treasury non-
concessional loans | France
can also provide direct
financing for an extended
range of countries and sectors
by delivering non-concessional
loans.
ICT Authority | The
Information and
Communication Technology
Authority is a State
Corporation under the
Kenyan Ministry of ICT
established in August 2013.
It is tasked with rationalising
and streamlining the
management of all
Government of Kenya ICT
functions. Our broad
mandate entails enforcing
ICT standards in
Government and enhancing
the supervision of its
electronic communication.
www.icta.go.ke
17
To get in touch with French Tech Community // Nairobi :
FrenchTechNairobi@FrenchTechNbi
French Tech [email protected]
“Just like the Nairobi skyline, the East African tech sector is under construction. The
foundation has been laid, and although there are still challenges that need to be addressed, all the key components necessary for a robust and vibrant ecosystem are in place. With mobile and
smartphone penetration continuing to grow, driving increased online access and spending,
the next couple of years will be game changing for technology in Africa.”